Technology Slice Blog

Diana Taurasi Tests Positive - The lawyer for WNBA standout Diana Taurasi has told The Associated Press that the former Connecticut star and Southern California native has tested positive for a mild stimulant while playing in a pro basketball league overseas. Howard Jacobs said Thursday night that Taurasi's A sample came back positive from a lab in Turkey and she was provisionally suspended by the Turkish league. Taurasi has requested that her B sample be tested. Jacobs said the substance "was not a steroid or recreational drug," however he refused to identify it. Diana Taurasi Tests Positive The Phoenix Mercury star served one day in jail and was suspended by the WNBA for two games in 2009 after pleading guilty to a DUI charge. She has already missed the last three games with Fenerbahce, her team in Turkey. Diana Taurasi Tests Positive

Are Men or Women Better Investors? - It's always risky to generalize, but there are tantalizing suggestions that women may be better investors than men. We're not saying that all women are better investors than all men. But there is intriguing data that suggest that women, on average, tend to follow the investing playbook (which we'll outline at the end of this story) just a little more faithfully than men, often with good results. Are Men or Women Better Investors? Judge for yourself: 1. Women are a little more likely to join the plan Women who earn between $30,000 and $100,000 are more likely to join their workplace retirement plan than are men in the same income range, according to How America Saves 2009, a report on Vanguard 2008 retirement plan data.* For example, 82% of women earning $50,000 to $74,999 had joined their plan in 2008, the latest year for which there are statistics, compared to 73% for men. It's not a given that women always join in la...

Koenigsegg Agera - The first Koenigsegg Agera has hit the showroom after its initial introduction at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Koenigsegg Agera is displayed and for sale at the Koenigsegg showroom in Abu Dhabi, which has been an important location for the Swedish supercar manufacturer since the opening of the showroom in 2007. The Koenigsegg Agera packs 910hp and beats most rival supercars on acceleration (0-100 km/h in 3.1 sec), top speed (390 km/h+) and price (€ 780.000 excl taxes). But there’s no doubt about it that it’s one of the most unique and exclusive supercars on the market today! Koenigsegg Agera

August Busch IV - St. Louis county officials are investigating what happened to a woman who was found dead on Sunday at the home of the former Anheuser-Busch CEO, August Busch IV. Officials identified the 27-year-old woman as Adrienne N. Martin. They said there were no signs of trauma or illness. A full autopsy report could take up to six weeks, but a source told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the death was being initially investigated as an overdose. August Busch IV Sources also told the Post-Dispatch that the 27-year-old had been dating Busch, a 46-year-old recent divorcee who had worked to shed his reputation of being quite the playboy, for a couple of months. Prior to meeting the ex-CEO, Martin had been married to a 45-year-old man for 7 years, with whom she had an 8-year-old son, friends told the paper. This investigation isn't the first time Busch has met with police about a tragic death, the Associated Press noted. In 1983, as a 20-year-old college student, ...

Google Corporate Logo - Google Doodle this time takes a different approach to depict the Festive season of Christmas and New Year. Google Doodle has always been the dressing up of the Google logo according to the event or the festival but this time the Google corporate logo consists of a collection of pictures, to depict the festive season. At the first glance, you might feel that the Google logo does not exist but on a much closer look you might end up reading the logo in some uneven lines. The Google Corporate logo is full of pictures of tourist destinations. Lets take a close look at the Christmas Google Doodle of tourist destinations. Google Corporate Logo

Statue of Liberty - An iconic statue in Franklin County is getting a face lift. The Lady Liberty statue at the Benton Library dates back to the 1940's. While many of the same statues have deteriorated or been sold for scrap metal, Benton wants to hang on to its piece of history. The 8 and-a-half foot tall, 300 pound replica of the statue of liberty has been a land mark of Benton for 60 years. But the community knows if they want our lady to last another half century-- restoration is a must. Statue of Liberty "She does have some holes in her structure that are allowing water to leak inside," says library director Erin Steinsultz. Steinsultz says Lady Liberty was removed from her outdoor post in 2008. A combination of weather and vandalism put her in need of repairs from her toes up to her crown. "Seven rays represent the seven continents and the seven seas-- she only has three," says Steinsultz. Statue of Liberty

2010 Quotables - The year was filled with buzz-worthy sound bites, tweets and gaffes. Some had us seeing red, some made us laugh, and others had us scratching our heads. Let's review who said what in 2010. The tables were turned in early December, when Winfrey was the one being grilled for a change. She had a tête-à-tête with another talk show queen, and topics included her relationship with her best friend. As the Delaware Senate race heated up, the Republican candidate released a commercial with a simple message: 2010 Quotables "I'm not a witch." She kick-started the witch rumors herself, during a 1999 TV guest spot. It wasn't her only memorable quote during the race (try this one), but it was a winner. The former oil and energy exec was under fire after this national ordeal began, and he indicated that he was fed up. "I'd like my life back." After the May 30 comment, he was pressured to apologize, but it was too little, too late. T...

Gillette Drops Tiger Woods - Making official what it began about a year ago, Gillette has officially dropped Tiger Woods from its marketing and advertising campaigns, according to USA Today. Dumping Woods and other athletes from its endorsement rolls was part of the razor giant’s overall plan to ratchet down its Gillette Champions marketing strategy, spokesperson Michael Norton told Game On! Thursday, according to reports. The Boston-based Procter & Gamble Co. subsidiary will, however, continue to showcase other athletes, including baseball great Derek Jeter and tennis star Roger Federer. Last December, immediately following Woods’ admission of infidelity, Gillette officials said they would distance the company from the then-No. 1 golfer while maintaining its “existing marketing programs,” according to the Boston Globe. By that time, the company had already pulled 30-second ads featuring Woods from U.S. television. Gillette Drops Tiger Woods Gillette signed a contract with...

GM Recall - Two popular carmakers are recalling models over possible safety problems. General Motors is recalling some 96-thousand Cadillac CTS cars for model years 2005 to 2007. The problem is with a mat that senses a passenger in the front seat and is connected to the airbag. Repeated flexing can cause it to bend and break the wire connection. As a result, the passenger-side airbag is disabled. Owners should get the mat replaced. Meanwhile, Honda is recalling nearly eleven-thousand Accord V-6 cars from model years 2010 and 2011 and some 2011 Pilot vehicles. The cars have loose bolts that can increase the risk of steering loss and noise. GM Recall

Who Wants to be a Millionaire - When PC David Rathband got a standing ovation at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards last month, he asked Carol Vorderman to become a patron of his Blue Lamp Foundation. And it's this charity - which raises money for emergency services personnel injured by criminals - that she's trying to win cash for when she pairs up with fashionista Gok Wan. This is a Christmas special with a difference. Not only will it be live, but all winnings will be shared 50/50 between the charity and a lucky viewer at home. Who Wants to be a Millionaire A phone number and website will appear at the start of each celebrity game, giving details of how you can enter for free. Also sharpening up their grey matter tonight is Chris Evans and TV chef James Martin, and Ann Widdecombe and heavyweight champ David Haye. One lucky viewer will no doubt be hoping the Hayemaker lives up to his name. Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Nokia C3 - The Nokia C3 is an amazing entry-level messenger device. The QWERTY keyboard and 2.4-inch screen make it the ideal choice for the budget user wanting to stay in touch with friends and family. But how did the Nokia C3 come to be such a smash hit? Check out our Nokia C3 review of the year and find out how… The Nokia C3 proved something of a major hit when it first appeared back in June. Not only did we see large queues around the world desperate to get their hands on the entry-level QWERTY messenger phone, it’s proved to be one of the best-selling Nokia phones of the year. Nokia C3 While the Nokia C3 didn’t appear in the UK until August, we managed to get our hands on a sample in July and even from the unboxing we were impressed with what was on offer. The cheapest QWERTY Nokia to-date, the Nokia C3, we commented at the time ‘Take the Nokia C3 out of the box and you’ll find a compact and neat device with 2.4-inch screen and full QWERTY keyboard. Weighing just 114g it fe...

Camille Grammer Pension - Kelsey Grammer has filed legal docs in his ongoing divorce with estranged wife Camille Grammer, seeking to protect his retirement and business accounts from any unauthorized withdrawals by his soon to be ex-wife. The actor/producer formally filed the documents in Los Angeles Superior Court, naming his various pension plans and business accounts as claimants in his divorce, and by doing this, the parties won't be able to make any payments without proper notice, or until there is a divorce judgment. Kelsey named Equity League, Screen Actors Guild, AFTR Health & Retirement Funds, Screen Actors Guild, Producers Pension Plan, Gramnet Inc (Kelsey & Camille's production company), and the Directors Guild of America. Camille Grammer Pension The legal docs state that Kelsey is seeking "an order determining the nature and extent of both employee and non-employee spouse's interest in employee benefits under the plan, an order restraining ...

Andrew Thomas Gallo 51 years - In a hearing filled with tearful speeches, Andrew Thomas Gallo is sentenced for the drunk-driving crash that killed the young baseball player and two friends. He'll be eligible for parole after 49 years. After two hours of wrenching, tear-filled pleas for both maximum justice and mercy, the man convicted of murder in the drunk-driving crash that killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two friends was sentenced Wednesday to 51 years to life in prison. Andrew Thomas Gallo, 23, will be eligible for parole after serving 49 years. Andrew Thomas Gallo 51 years "You're right — I am a horrible person," Gallo told Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey before sentencing. "They had big, bright futures ahead of them. And because of me, they're gone." Toohey gave prosecutors what they sought: consecutive sentences on three second-degree murder charges and other felonies stemming from the April 2009 crash that kill...

Landon Donovan Divorce - Separated from his "Rules of Engagement" actress wife for more than a year, professional soccer player Landon Donovan has taken steps to end his marriage officially. The Team U.S.A. hero in the World Cup filed for divorce Tuesday from Bianca Kajlich, according to Los Angeles Superior Court papers. "We remain the closest of friends and will always be important parts of each other's lives," the pair say in a joint statement. Landon Donovan Divorce Donovan, 28, who wed Kajlich, 33, on New Year's Eve 2006, separated from her in October 2009, according to the divorce petition. About a year later, reports surfaced they were possibly reconciling after the World Cup. But days later, Donovan faced rumors he had fathered a love child with an unidentified British woman. The reports turned out to be untrue, with Donovan telling E! Online, "I will not be a dad any time soon, which is good news for me." Citing irreconcilab...

Salmonella Outbreak 15 States - Federal officials announced today they are collaborating on an investigation into a multistate Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- outbreak, possibly linked to sprouts served on sandwiches at Jimmy Johns restaurants, that have sickened 89 people in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The first cases surfaced in Illinois, where state officials announced last week that they were investigating illnesses involving the same outbreak strain in people from 11 of the state's counties, plus one patient from Wisconsin. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that 50 of the patients are from Illinois. Other cases are from Missouri (14), Indiana (9), Wisconsin (3), and Pennsylvania (2). Locations with one case so far include Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Illness onsets, available for 81 of the patients, range from Nov 1 thr...

Black Swan Lawsuit - A New York film production company has sued its former president, claiming "gross lapses in judgment" cost the company millions of dollars in lost revenue and a producer credit on the movie "Black Swan." The defendant, Aaron Kaufman, called the claims baseless and said he would countersue for libel. "Black Swan," starring Natalie Portman, was released for the holiday season and has gained early Oscar buzz after being nominated for four Golden Globe awards, including best drama. Overnight LLC, led by producer Rick Schwartz, accuses Kaufman of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of corporate opportunity in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court. Black Swan Lawsuit "Among other things, Kaufman misrepresented his knowledge, skill and experience (and) pretended to be knowledgeable about the financing of motion pictures when he was not," the suit said. The suit further claims that Kauf...

Norad Santa Tracker - A 55-year-old tradition continues this year as the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, launches its Santa Tracker at 2 a.m. EST on Christmas Eve, with help from Google Earth. NORAD tracks Old Saint Nick with four high-tech systems -- radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets -- not to mention the help of volunteers and donations to offset the costs. The program started in 1955, when a Sears Roebuck ad in Colorado Springs, Colo., misprinted their number in an ad for a Santa hotline. Instead of Santa, calls poured in to the Continental Air Defense Command and its director of operations, Col. Harry Shoup. Shoup answered the phone expecting to speak to someone at the Pentagon. Instead he heard someone asking, "Are you really Santa Claus?" Rather than say, "Sorry, kid, wrong number," he used his tracking equipment to give children the location of Santa Claus. You can find a charming audio clip of Shoup describing the first ...

Terrelle Pryor - Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will sit out the first five games of the 2011 season due to receiving discounted services –- a violation of NCAA rules—which will ultimately further hurt his draft stock going forward for two reasons. The first is that the guy simply broke the rules. He thought he was above the law, tried to get away with something he knew was wrong and will now have to answer questions from NFL scouts concerning his overall maturity level. And sure, it’s not like he got busted with drugs or killed someone, but the facts are this is a mark against the guy's off the field character and for someone who wants to be the face of the franchise and be an NFL quarterback, this is not the type of trouble you want following around your potential signal caller. Terrelle Pryor The second concern is that Pryor will miss the first five games of the season and that’s valuable reps he will be missing where he could have been in the game getting better a...

2011 Ohio State Football Schedule - Terrelle Pryor and company will miss the first five game’s of the 2011 Ohio St. Buckeyes football season — assuming they stick around, of course. Fans of Big Ten teams besides the Buckeyes may be disappointed to note four of Ohio State’s first five games are in Columbus, and three are all but guaranteed. This is why you schedule Akron, y’all. Akron Zips, Sept. 3: Though they may have been the nation’s worst team this year, Akron enters 2011 on a one-game winning streak, having shocked 2-10 Buffalo 22-14. There would be more honor in scheduling a top FCS school than in playing poor Akron. Toledo Rockets, Sept. 10: Toledo is a decent enough MAC team, and even beat a supposed Big Ten team (Purdue) this year, so Tressel may need to leave the second-stringers in past halftime. The Rockets allowed more points to Northern Illinois than any other team did, and scored fewer on Arizona than any other team. 2011 Ohio State Football Schedule At Miami Hu...

EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulation - The Obama administration announced landmark plans Thursday to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Unites States. A press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that new standards granted under the Clean Air Act will be implemented in 2012. The EPA also announced that it is taking unprecedented action to issue air permits to industries in Texas, due to the state's non-compliance with new regulations that are set to begin on January 2. The EPA's new plan will establish standards specifically for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries, both of which combine to represent roughly 40 percent of GHG pollution in the United States. EPA Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Pat Robertson Causes Stir - The Rev. Pat Robertson - a longtime fixture in Christian conservative politics - is drawing attention for questioning an article of faith among many Republicans: mandatory prison sentences for certain marijuana-related crimes. Some pot legalization advocates noted that Robertson also appeared to question the criminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana - a position later denied in a written statement released by his media outlet, the Christian Broadcasting Network. "It got to be a big deal in campaigns," Robertson said on the December 16 edition of his show "The 700 Club." "Lock 'em up, you know. That's the way these guys ran, and they got elected. But that wasn't the answer." Pat Robertson Causes Stir Robertson said there is "something else we've got to recognize. We're locking up people that take a couple of puffs of marijuana and the next thing they know they've got 10 year...

Dublin Airport Closed - First it was open, then it closed, then it opened, now it's closed again. Are we bored of the snow yet? It looks lovely if you're looking out of a warm house with a hot whiskey in your hand. But the snow is continuing to cause misery for people trying to use Dublin airport to get somewhere (or to land if coming in from somewhere else). Thanks to yet more of the white stuff, Dublin airport had to close its runway on Thursday evening for the umpteenth time this week. The Dublin Airport Authority said flights will be suspended until 11pm. Aer Lingus has cancelled all its Thursday evening flights after today’s disruption has had a major negative knock-on effect. Dublin Airport Closed According to DAA spokeswomen Siobhan Moore, friction tests showed that the braking action of aircraft had been compromised following snow showers this afternoon. Taking into account the three and a half hour disruption earlier today, 270 flights and approximately 40...

Ellen Degeneres Shelter Pets - Ellen DeGeneres’ holiday cheer is going to the dogs. The talk show host has teamed up with Halo, Purely for Pets to deliver one million meals to shelter pets awaiting adoption. “At Halo we want to promote healthy living for pets and eating good food is a big part of that. So, we agreed to donate one million meals of Halo to shelter pets. I mean, imagine, an animal in a shelter, in a cage, lonely - a good meal is kinda all they have to look forward to, until you adopt them!” Ellen said. The campaign launched on April 30, 2010 when the United States Post Service’s social awareness stamp, “Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet” first became available for purchase. Ellen and Halo partnered with a number of non-profit organizations to donate the 1 million meals, including Freekibble, The Humane Society of the US, ASPCA, Pets for Patriots, and The National Canine Cancer Foundation amongst others. Ellen Degeneres Shelter Pets

Kate Middleton Engagement Coin - Britain's Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin featuring supposedly lifelike portraits of Prince William and his bride-to-be — but critics say Kate Middleton has a right to be horrified. Images of the couple on the memento bear little resemblance to either the prince or his 28-year-old betrothed. Middleton appears plump in the face and lips and has bags under her eyes. Some critics claim William looks like Al Gore. Available in silver or gold, the 5-pound ($7.70) coin marks the April 29 wedding of the second-in-line to the British throne. Ingrid Seward of Majesty magazine told Britain's Sky News on Thursday it was "ridiculous" that the images were so poor. But Dickie Arbiter, a former royal spokesman, says it's often difficult to produce accurate images on a coin. Kate Middleton Engagement Coin

50 Cent Burglary Suspect Charged in Shooting - Alex Hernandez, one of the two men arrested for burglarizing 50 Cent's house earlier this week, was nabbed on attempted murder charges Wednesday (Dec. 22). According to police in New Britain, Conn., Hernandez, 19, was wanted in connection to a double shooting in New Britain that occurred back in October. Two men were injured during the incident. Following his arrest at 50's estate, Hernandez was charged with burglary and criminal trespassing, and was later turned over to local police to face warrants for attempted murder and first-degree assault for the shooting. He has since been arraigned on attempted murder charges and is currently being held on $700,000 bond. 50 Cent Burglary Suspect Charged in Shooting The teenager, alongside his accomplice, Santos Padilla, was apprehended in 50's mansion Tuesday (Dec. 21) after officers received a tip earlier that morning. Upon pulling up to the 50,000 square-foot estate, officers ...

Michael Savage Sues Radio Network - Conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage has filed a lawsuit against his syndicator Talk Radio Network, claiming TRN is attempting to force him into “indentured servitude.” Savage’s contract with TRN expires at the end of the year, and he has received an offer to move his show to Courtside Radio, which is headed by Norman Pattiz, founder of industry giant Westwood One. Michael Savage Sues Radio Network According to court papers, the proposed Savage network would have links to the RightNetwork, an on-demand video service backed by actor Kelsey Grammer and sports and media mogul Ed Snider. Savage’s contract with Pattiz offers him 1 percent of the equity in the fledgling network. TRN has the right to match an outside offer and has attempted to do so, but Savage asserts in his suit filed Monday that TRN’s proposal falls short of the offer from Courtside Radio. For example, he argues that TRN can’t match the stock equity offer proffered b...

Bob Dylan 178 Pizzas - A man wearing a Bob Dylan backstage pass who ordered 178 pizzas from a Massachusetts pizza parlor but never picked them up has agreed to hand over the dough. A lawyer for the New Jersey man says his client is a "decent enough" guy with no criminal record who felt bad about the prank. Attorney Sean Cleary did not reveal his client's name and did not say how much he'll repay. The pizzas he ordered were worth about $4,000. Workers at Antonio's in the college town of Amherst stayed until 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 20 making the pies. The man ordered them shortly after a Dylan concert at the nearby University of Massachusetts. He said he would return in several hours and deliver them to Dylan's crew. But he never returned and the manager called police. Bob Dylan 178 Pizzas

Man Jumps from Balcony Romania - Romania's government survived a no-confidence motion in Parliament on Thursday in a session overshadowed by a man who flung himself from the chamber's balcony, apparently in protest over the government austerity measures. His injuries were not life-threatening. A loud thud reverberated in the chamber after the man, Adrian Sobaru — identified by the country's public television station as one of its engineers — jumped from a height of about 7 meters (23 feet). He hit the benches shortly after Prime Minister Emil Boc greeted the lawmakers. No one else was injured. Boc looked startled and rushed over to Sobaru, along with other lawmakers, before Speaker Mircea Geoana briefly postponed the session. Man Jumps from Balcony Romania Boc called the incident "a tragedy that shocked me," and appealed for calm "in these tough times." The session resumed without the presence of opposition lawmakers, who walked out when their...

Acne Prevention Tips - Pimples are tiny skin lesions or inflammations of the skin. They are commonly caused by clogged or infected pores. They may appear as deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) on the face, neck, chest, back and sometimes shoulders. Severe acne can affect many facets of a person's life, causing a great deal of embarrassment and stress. Some severe forms of acne like acne cysts may rupture and cause scars that can result in psychological effects on the sufferer. Having skin full of pimples and zits may significantly limit one's social life. Although acne is not considered to be a life threatening disorder, the psychological impact of acne can be quite profound as it affects the most visible parts of your body. If your acne condition is severe it can cause disfiguring and require years of treatment. In such cases seeking the help of a qualified dermatologist will be your best option. Acne Prevention Tips

Celebrities in Jail 2010 - Chief among them must be Mad Max actor Mel Gibson. He kicked off the fame shame game when tapes were leaked of him berating his estranged lover Oksana Grigorieva, mother to his eighth child, Lucia. He called his lover every name under the sun, including a whore and gold digger, before he allegedly threatened to kill her. The battle rages on in court but 54-year-old Mel says he ‘only’ slapped his missus. Next up, welcome back George Michael. Wham! bam, he ended in the slammer after smacking his car into a London Snappy Snaps store in July. The 47-year-old was sent down for eight weeks for driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis. After receiving a five-year driving ban, the singer vowed we’d see a lot more of him in 2011 but for all the right reasons. Joining him on the bus will be Sugababes singer Amelle Berrabah after she landed herself with a 14-month driving ban. She was stopped on her way to meet a fitness instructor but was still...

Mike Huckabee Defends Michelle Obama - Sorry, Sarah. Mike Huckabee is taking the First Lady's side in your spat over healthy eating. The ex-GOP presidential candidate and former fatty defended Michelle Obama after Sarah Palin threw a punch at the First Lady's anti-obesity campaign. "With all due respect to my colleague and friend Sarah Palin, I think she's misunderstood what Michelle Obama is trying to do," Huckabee said during an interview on the "Curtis Sliwa Show" on Tuesday. Mike Huckabee Defends Michelle Obama "Michelle Obama's not trying to tell people what to eat or not trying to force the government's desires on people," Huckabee said. Huckabee, who currently hosts a show on Fox News, has faced a public battle with the bulge himself. The 55-year-old has lost more than 100 pounds in the past seven years after ballooning to 280 pounds. He's been an outspoken proponent for exercise and healthy eating. Mike Huckab...

Swiss Embassy Rome - Italian news reports say a claim by an Italian anarchist group was found at the site of one of the twin embassy package bomb blasts in Rome. The ANSA news agency said Thursday night that the written claim was made by the Informal Anarchist Federation, saying "Long live anarchy." Anti-terrorism police officers at Rome police headquarters declined to comment on the report. Earlier, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the blasts at the Swiss and Chilean embassies were likely the work of anarchists. Two employees—one at each embassy—were seriously wounded when opening mail. Swiss Embassy Rome

David Schwimmer Baby - Former Friends star David Schwimmer is going to be a dad. The actor has confirmed he is expecting his first child with wife Zoe Buckman. A spokesman for the couple, who wed in June this year, told a US magazine they “couldn’t be more thrilled”. Schwimmer, 44, and Buckman, a photographer, met in London in 2007 and announced their engagement in March this year. The said “I do” just three months later in a small, private ceremony. Schwimmer spoke about his desire to become a father in 2006, but said he was keen to wait until the time was right. “I think it’s going to have to wait until I settle down and have a family,” he said. “It will happen when it feels right. Maybe part of me is waiting for myself to slow down a little and be ready to stay put.” David Schwimmer Baby

Michelle Anthony Dies - Michelle Anthony, Carmelo Anthony’s sister, is dead at 36. Carmelo Anthony left last night’s game upon news of his sister’s death. Michelle Anthony suffered from a pre-existing medical condition not disclosed to news Wednesday night. Carmelo was in San Antonio with the Nuggets when he learned of his sister’s passing. She is survived by four children. Michelle was a resident of Baltimore. Anthony said he will return to his team after Christmas. Their next game is Saturday at Oklahoma City. Team officials confirm his absence from practice two days earlier was not connected to Michelle’s condition. The Nuggets released the following statement to news last night: “Our entire organization supports Carmelo during this difficult time for him and his family. It is heartbreaking news, particularly during the holiday season.” A family representative issued the following brief statement to CBS News last night that “It is a difficult time. especially during th...

Nicole Kidman Adopted Kids - Nicole Kidman, the Australian actress raised 18-year-old Isabella and Connor, 15, with ex-husband Tom Cruise and is saddened by their decision to live with their father, his wife Katie Holmes and their four-year-old daughter Suri, but wouldn't fight their choice. She said: "They live with Tom, which was their choice. I'd love them to live with us, but what can you do?" Though she is upset about her elder children not living with her, she is delighted to have become a parent again later in life, having had daughter Sunday Rose with husband Keith Urban in July 2008. She admitted: "It's a beautiful thing at 43 to have a two and half year old!" Nicole Kidman Adopted Kids

Man Trapped Florida Mine Collapse - A man is trapped underwater after authorities say a central Florida phosphate mine collapsed around him. The mine is located in Bushnell in Sumter County, almost 40 miles south of Ocala. Sumter County Sheriff's Office Lt. Kevin Hofecker told WESH TV today that blasting was under way when some land gave way underneath the victim. No further information was released. Man Trapped Florida Mine Collapse

Rahm Emanuel Run for Mayor - The Chicago Elections Board of Commissioners ruled Thursday that Rahm Emanuel is a city resident qualified to run for mayor — a pivotal decision that came just hours after an elections official recommended the board rule in favor of the former White House chief of staff in a challenge filed by dozens of objectors. The three-member board, composed of two Democrats and a Republican, concluded that Emanuel had not "abandoned" his residency when he moved from Chicago for Washington to serve as President Barack Obama’s top adviser. The ruling clears the way for the former North side congressman to run to replace Mayor Richard M. Daley — a race in which Emanuel leads the nearest competitor by 23 percentage points. Rahm Emanuel Run for Mayor In closing statements before a packed room at the Board of Elections — where a circus-like scene unfolded during the residency hearing a week ago — the board acknowledged that the appellate courts would have t...

Lake Michigan Credit Union - The hiring of a commercial lender to work the Ottawa County market follows Lake Michigan Credit Union’s strategy to aggressively grow business lending across its footprint. The Grand Rapids-based credit union plans to position a commercial lender in the Kalamazoo and St. Joseph markets in early 2011 and aims to double business loans to members over the next year. The credit union last spring decided to step up its commercial lending arm, seeing the market opportunity to take advantage of what it sees as a void left in the marketplace by some banks that tightened lending during the recession. Lake Michigan Credit Union “We’re trying to do business where we have people and operations,” said Mark Hofhines, senior vice president of commercial lending at Lake Michigan Credit Union. “There are a lot of good customers that are not getting what they deserve.” Lake Michigan, which has 31 offices in West Michigan and assets of $2.07 billion, grew total bus...

Up on the Housetop - It's Festivus: If you opt to celebrate the fictional "Seinfeld"-based holiday this season, today's the day. Air your grievances and find a Festivus poll! [ABC News] 'Familyre' Christmas songs: The folk label Sounds Familyre has released a free collection of Christmas music, including Sufjan Stevens and Vesper Stamper's take on "Up on the House Top." [Bandcamp] DJ Pauly D signs series option: The "Jersey Shore" star may be getting his own MTV show, which will follow his rise through the DJ scene. Get Diplo to co-star as his fast-talking best friend and we're in. [People] 'Saturday Night Live's' greatest hits: With most of the sketch comedy's 36 seasons now on Netflix Instant Watch, Splitsider has a "somewhat obsessive" guide to the best episodes. [SplitSider] 'The Wire' for $75: Order the critically acclaimed show in the next five hours and your favorite TV junkie will b...

Qualcomm Stadium Flooding - The playing field at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego is no longer submerged. Some parking areas are another matter, but the Poinsettia Bowl between Navy and San Diego State is a go. Workers spent Wednesday night pumping about a million and a half gallons of water -- which arrived in a big storm earlier this week -- out of the stadium and into the San Diego River. "The field looks beautiful," Bruce Binkowski, the bowl's executive director, said early Thursday morning. "All the water is off. They've actually started to paint the sponsor logo at midfield. That tells you how things are progressing. They're painting the field markings now. All the water is out. It's a miracle." Qualcomm Stadium Flooding Well, that may be the optimism of a bowl director talking. Some parking spots remain submerged and he did admit that, "The field may be a little damp and slushy during the game because it's so absorbent down ther...

Festivus Holiday - In the 13 years since Festivus was introduced on an episode of "Seinfeld," the made-up Dec. 23 "holiday for the rest of us" has moved well beyond the confines of American TV reruns to become globally recognized. While mostly noted today among Americans, Festivus was also inspiring a number of tweets from around the world and for much of the day was a top 10 most-tweeted phrase among tweeters worldwide. Festivus Holiday In England, Alice Rooney experienced not a Christmas miracle, but rather a Festivus miracle amid the snow that has clogged highways and brought airports to a standstill. "Making it from Bristol to London on public transport in the current climate surely qualifies as an early festivus miracle," she tweeted Dec. 20. Even in Indonesia the fake holiday was noted today, with Haddy Kustaman tweeting: "Festivus Is Here: Time To Air Grievances." And in Australia, Mik Morley tweeted: "Look out world, the cou...

Useful Baby Gifts for Parents - Caring for a new baby is one of the most joyous and challenging times in a parent’s life, especially if we are talking about a couple expecting their first born. For them it is easy to feel anxious, nervous, and unsure. First-time parents often need a lot of handholding. Getting ready for the arrival of their little bundle of joy may be confusing, and expensive, unless family and friends bring them useful and practical gifts. In that case, the “old faithful” gifts may indeed be the best way to help out. Not to make any embarrassing or useless purchases, the best thing one can do is ask the new parents flat-out what baby accessories they already have, what kind of gifts they prefer, how the baby’s room is organized, what colours and patterns they favor, and if they know what the baby’s gender will be. Useful Baby Gifts for Parents Clothes are one of the most bought gifts. When buying tees, sleepwear, body suits, rompers and tights, jackets, socks a...

Most Popular Gift Cards - Curiosity got the best of me today so I decided to find out what the 10 most popular gift cards are. I figured the best way to do this was to see which gift cards feature the most on searches. Since I am biased towards Google and Yahoo, I decided to use a keyword research tool to find out which gift cards are popular on these two sites. It turns out the most popular gift card according to Google and Yahoo Search results is the Visa gift card. The top 10 is made up of the following: Most Popular Gift Cards * Visa Gift Cards * Walmart Gift Cards * Target Gift Cards * Home Depot Gift Cards * American Express Prepaid Gift Cards * Lowe’s Gift Cards * iTunes Gift Cards * Best Buy Gift Cards * MasterCard Prepaid Gift Cards * Simon Gift Card (Visa) Prepaid Gift Cards The result was surprising to me. I was expecting to see more department store and clothing store gift cards. I am not sure why i had that thought. I...

Diabetes Testing Strips Recalled - The Food and Drug Administration is recalling more than 350 million glucose test strips after they were found to give inaccurate results. FDA officials are working with Abbott, the manufacturer, to recall six of their brand name glucose test strips. The recalled strips may give a false low blood sugar result — which could lead patients to raise their glucose unnecessarily — or avoid treating high blood sugar because of the low reading. Diabetes Testing Strips Recalled Both scenarios could be dangerous. Users of these strips are encouraged to call Abbott's customer service line to replace the defective strips. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the agency is working with Abbott Diabetes Care to recall 359 different lots of glucose test strips marketed under the following brand names: *Precision Xceed Pro; *Precision Xtra; *Medisense Optium; *Optium; *OptiumEZ; and *ReliOn Ultima. - The test strips were manufactur...

Paying Too Much for Car Insurance? - When it comes to car insurance, young adults tend to take the path of least resistance -- and that could be costing them hundreds of dollars a year. Once you move out from under your parents' roof or buy your own car, most insurance companies will require you to buy your own policy instead of keeping your coverage under Mom and Dad's. When that day comes, many of us simply stick with the same company as our parents, opening our own policy without even looking around to see what else is available. Paying Too Much for Car Insurance? The truth is, rates for the exact same level of coverage can vary dramatically from company to company due to variances in their operating costs, past claims experience and formula differences. So it really pays to re-shop your policy among as least three insurers to see who can offer you the best deal for your age and situation, which, obviously, are much different from your parents'. Paying Too Much ...

AWD Hatchbacks Best Mileage - Seeing as you don’t want fancy — nothing wrong with that — the car we recommend you look at is the 2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, starting at a base MSRP of $19,995. The only feature you’ll have to give up is the moonroof, which isn’t offered on any of the 2008 Imprezas. Otherwise, the Impreza Outback Sport is a four-door hatchback that comes with standard heated seats, AWD and keyless entry. Take note: Heated seats are not available on the base Impreza 2.5. Also, the Impreza Outback Sport is a completely different model than the Outback — you want to look at the Impreza Outback Sport. AWD Hatchbacks Best Mileage Another car that has all the features you mentioned is the Caliber R/T with AWD. Is it one of our favorites? Not really, but if the Subaru doesn’t do it for you, then the Caliber has those features. The moonroof is a $795 option, but everything else comes standard on the AWD model. The Caliber R/T with AWD starts at $20,495. AWD Hatch...

Rehab Staff Fired for Blabbing - The Betty Ford staffer who accused Lindsay Lohan of criminal battery was fired by the rehab center Thursday, after she granted TMZ a videotaped interview in which she asserted that Lohan was "out of control" after drinking the night of the alleged attack. Dawn Holland, a chemical technician at the Betty Ford Center, told TMZ that on Dec. 12, Lohan and her roommates tried to sneak back into their sober living residence after curfew but were caught by security. She said in the interview she smelled alcohol on Lohan's breath and that the actress refused to take a breathalyzer test. Rehab Staff Fired for Blabbing "She was very angry and out of control," Holland says in the video. Holland claimed Lohan assaulted her when she tried to call police. "She just grabbed my wrist and snatched it down, and twisted my arm and my hand," Holland said. After a trip to the emergency room, she "found out I have a severe spra...

Career Mistakes - There is a fine line between between being competitive while pursuing a job and annoying the potential employer. The following is an explanation the top five career mistakes that you should avoid. It is targeted toward professionals in the finance and investing industry which is highly competitive and many people’s enthusiasm for getting the job leads them to commit errors that ruin their chances. I receive lots of applications from people looking to enter the private equity industry and almost all of these applicants (although well-meaning) unknowingly makes at least one of these mistakes. Here are five very common mistakes: 1. Don’t be annoying. Annoying may seem a bit harsh but I don’t know how else to describe ten e-mails confirming that you received the first e-mail. By pursuing a hirer or recruiter too aggressively he will want to give you a shot even less rather than catching his attention. Career Mistakes 2. Don’t be overconfident. Confidence is...

US Birth Rate All Time Low - The U.S. teen birth rate hit an all-time low in 2009 — a decline that stunned experts say is partly because of the economy. The birth rate for teenagers fell to 39 births per 1,000 girls, ages 15 through 19, according to a government report released Tuesday. It was a 6 percent decline from the previous year, and the lowest rate since health officials started tracking it in 1940. Experts say the recession from December 2007 to June 2009 was a major factor driving down births overall and there's good reason to think it affect would-be teen mothers. US Birth Rate All Time Low "I'm not suggesting that teens are examining futures of 401ks or how the market is doing," said Sarah Brown, chief executive of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "But I think they are living in families that experience that stress. They are living next door to families that lost their jobs. The recession has touched us all,...

FCC Internet TV - U.S. Internet TV services planned by Microsoft, Google and Amazon could be held back by imminent rules that would allow phone and cable companies to charge consumers based on usage, media executives told Reuters. The Web traffic rules, due to be voted on by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, could tip the economics away from consumers watching TV over Internet lines if they help cable companies charge more versus their own television offerings. Said one executive at a major US media company: "in the event a cable company feels threatened" by Internet TV services, "they could control offerings through pricing the usage." FCC Internet TV FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's proposal would ban Internet providers from blocking lawful content but acknowledge their need to manage their networks. The plan looked assured of adoption after his two fellow Democrats on the commission announced their support on Monday, despite some mis...

Ashton Kutcher Mistress - Lawyers for Ashton Kutcher threatened legal action against bosses at an adult entertainment company after the star's name was used to promote a sex tape. Kutcher reportedly does not appear in the tape. And now his former 'mistress' Brittney Jones says she is selling a gray sweater that was given to her after spending the night together with Kutcher. The starting bid is set at $500. Ashton Kutcher Mistress Vivid Entertainment chiefs are set to release a new porn video featuring Brittney Jones, who claims to have slept with the actor, and have put out a press release for the clip declaring: "Ashton's fans will undoubtedly enjoy seeing what the star himself may have experienced." Attorneys for the Just Married star claim the association infringes on his "marketable celebrity identity value" and have threatened to take legal action if his name is not removed. Ashton Kutcher Mistress

Virtual Santa Sick Kids - For children in the hospital over Christmas, a visit from Santa Claus — especially a cool, virtual Santa beamed in from the North Pole — is like a breath of fresh air. Children's Hospital Boston Wednesday played host to what has become an annual event: a video meeting between the season's most popular personality and some of the city's sickest children. "You kids have been on my 'nice' list for a long time," the jovial Santa told Kaylee Sullivan, 7, who was joined by her brother Liam and friend Anna for the video chat. Virtual Santa Sick Kids As many as 75 children spoke with Santa, first in the hospital's play area and later in the oncology ward, for those too frail to leave their rooms. "To have a brief talk with Santa is a magical moment for the kids," said Patrick Regan, enterprise account manager for healthcare at Cisco Systems, which provides the video technology, and the Santa, for the event. Chil...

WTF Wikileaks Task Force - The CIA has launched a task force to assess the impact of the exposure of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables and military files by WikiLeaks. Officially, the panel is called the WikiLeaks Task Force. But at CIA headquarters, it's mainly known by its all-too-apt acronym: W.T.F. The irreverence is perhaps understandable for an agency that has been relatively unscathed by WikiLeaks. Only a handful of CIA files have surfaced on the WikiLeaks Web site, and records from other agencies posted online reveal remarkably little about CIA employees or operations. WTF Wikileaks Task Force Even so, CIA officials said the agency is conducting an extensive inventory of the classified information, which is routinely distributed on a dozen or more networks that connect agency employees around the world. And the task force is focused on the immediate impact of the most recently released files. One issue is whether the agency's ability to recruit informants c...

Father Son Sentenced in Bank Bombing - The same jury that convicted a father-son team of planting a bomb that killed two police officers inside an Oregon bank has now recommended that both be put to death. Bruce and Joshua Turnidge stood silently, betraying no emotion, as Judge Tom Hart read the jury's decision Wednesday. The two will be formally sentenced Jan. 24. Hart can't overturn the jury's recommendation. Because the case involves a death sentence, it will be automatically appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court. Father Son Sentenced in Bank Bombing The defendants' relatives later gathered on the steps of the Marion County courthouse. "It's all in God's hands," said Janet Turnidge, Bruce's wife and Joshua's mother. Her family has been praying for the victims and hopes their relatives will some day find peace, she said. Prosecutors urged jurors to sentence the men to death to prevent them from endangering prison staff or preachin...

Jenni Farley's New Look - Now that the relevance of Jersey Shore may be fading, Jwoww is evolving. She’s rolling with the punches, reinventing herself into a classy lady. Jenni Farley (her legal name) finally scrubbed off the spray-tan and now goes for a less-is-more make-up look that pairs well with her still sexy, but more classy ,rags. She used to show up in dresses made out of ripped thong bikinis, and now she’s wearing sleak dresses that accentuate her curves without letting it all hang out. Jwoww always seemed like a smart cookie (she’s a much different person in interviews than she is on the show), and she’ll probably come out of this who Jersey Shore thing just fine. The other cast members? Only time will tell. Jenni Farley's New Look

Bianca Kajlich Divorce - The couple have been separated for more than a year but US soccer player Landon Donovan has finally made the split official. The LA Galaxy captain filed divorce papers today with the Los Angeles court seeking to end his three year marriage to Rules Of Engagement actress Bianca Kajlich, 33. Although it appeared earlier this year as if the couple had reconciled, 28-year-old Donovan cited irreconcilable differences as his reason for the split in the documents. Bianca Kajlich Divorce In a joint statement the couple said: 'We remain the closest of friends and will always be important parts of each other's lives.' The pair wed on New Years Eve in 2006 but separated in October 2009 according to the papers filed with the court. Bianca Kajlich Divorce

Cool Greys Jordan 11 - The Cool Grey Air Jordan 11 shoe is set to debut on Thursday, December 23rd. Footlocker plans a midnight release of the latest shoe in the Air Jordan line. The sneaker features a retro design. While many Michael Jordon fans remember him wearing a pair of OG Air Jordan 1s during his final game as a Bull against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, during the same game Jordan also wore a pair of Cool Greys. The latest Cool Grey line is based on those shoes. The shoes will be priced from $40 to $175, depending on style and size. Footlocker is planning extra security during their planned midnight sale of the shoe following incidents of looting at some locations during a similar shoe release last year. Cool Greys Jordan 11

Jordin Sparks Turns 21 - Jordin Brianna Sparks (born December 22, 1989) is an American Pop/R&B recording artist, singer-songwriter, and actress from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in history. She followed her American Idol victory with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2007, which has gone platinum and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Sparks' single, "No Air" is the highest selling single by any American Idol contestant, selling about 4 million digital copies worldwide. Due to the success of her debut album and its four top 20 singles, she has received numerous awards and nominations including an American Music Award in 2008 and her first Grammy nomination in 2009. Jordin Sparks Turns 21 Sparks' second album Battlefield was released in July 2009 worldwide and debuted at #7 in the U.S., three spots higher than her fi...

Abbey Road Crosswalk Historic - A striped crosswalk in London entered the history books Wednesday for a second time. First, the Beatles made it famous by walking across it on the cover of their "Abbey Road" album, prompting millions of imitators. Then, this week, the British government declared the zebra crossing a historic landmark -- the first street crossing ever to get the designation. "It is a fantastic testimony to the international fame of the Beatles that -- more than 40 years on -- this crossing continues to attract thousands of visitors each year, trying to mimic their iconic 'Abbey Road' album cover," British heritage minister John Penrose said. Abbey Road Crosswalk Historic The street crossing is near the Abbey Road music studios, where the album was recorded. The studios themselves were declared a historic landmark in February. Paul McCartney, who appears barefoot on the album cover, said he and the Beatles had had a great year and ...

Zsa Zsa Gabor Husband Glue - Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Prince Frederic Von Anhalt, was reportedly hospitalized Tuesday after accidently gluing one of his eyelids shut. A rep for Von Anhalt told TMZ that he was going through his morning routine while at the couple's home in Beverly Hills when he picked up a bottle of nail glue he mistook for eye drops. The 66-year-old was rushed to the hospital and underwent a surgical procedure to reopen his eyelid, according to the gossip site. His rep said Von Anhalt was in good spirits. Zsa Zsa Gabor Husband Glue The accident comes two months after Von Anhalt was hospitalized for swallowing a bee while sunbathing in his backyard. Gabor, 93, has had her own shares of health scares this year. Since summer, the Hungarian-born actress has undergone surgery to remove clots from her upper body and has had hip replacement surgery. She was recently hospitalized in November for treatment of massive blood clots in her legs. Zsa Zsa Gab...

Little Fockers - Little Fockers aka Meet the Little Fockers, known as Meet the Parents: Little Fockers in the United Kingdom and Australia, is a 2010 American comedy film and a sequel to both Meet the Parents (2000) and Meet the Fockers (2004) starring Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand. This is the third and final installment of the series. It is also the first film in the series that was not directed by Jay Roach and was instead directed by Paul Weitz. However, it was produced by Roach. It was announced on August 24, 2010, that Dustin Hoffman will reprise his role as Greg's father, Bernie Focker. In addition to the original cast, Little Fockers stars Jessica Alba, Laura Dern and Harvey Keitel. Little Fockers

Skating with the Stars Finale 2 - Who was the best ice queen of them all? It turned out to be All My Children actress Rebecca Budig, who outskated Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel on Tuesday night to be crowned the winner of ABC's inaugural Skating with the Stars season. Budig, the front-runner all season long – she notched the season's only perfect score of 60 – was stunned to be named the winner, and credited her partner, the skating pro Fred Palascak. Skating with the Stars Finale 2 "I'm just shocked. I owe all of this to Fred, who is an unbelievable teacher," she said. Meanwhile, Frankel, 40, who skated with Ethan Burgess, was gracious as the runner-up. "Rebecca totally deserves it. She should be a real ice skater," she said. Perhaps the show's biggest name, Frankel said the six-week show was challenging." "I did take on too much, but when you do that, you have to just push harder and go through it,"...